Eskom Refutes Claims of 14-Hour Load Shedding in June, Assures Stable Power Supply

As winter tightens its grip on South Africa, Eskom has moved swiftly to debunk claims that the country will face 14-hour load shedding periods in June 2025. Social media platforms were abuzz this week with alarming posts suggesting that residents in Gauteng and the Northern Cape should brace for prolonged blackouts due to heightened electricity demand. However, Eskom has categorically denied these reports, labeling them as “fake news.”

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No 14-Hour Load Shedding Planned, Says Eskom

In a strongly worded statement, Eskom dismissed the claims circulating online, assuring South Africans that the power utility has no plans to implement such extreme load shedding schedules.

“Eskom categorically rejects the false claims circulating online about a 14-hour outage or imminent load shedding. These reports are completely untrue,” the power utility confirmed.

The post, which falsely warned of 14-hour rolling blackouts set to hit parts of the country in June, caused widespread panic among residents already grappling with the seasonal challenges of winter. Eskom emphasized that such misinformation causes unnecessary alarm and urged the public to rely solely on official Eskom channels for updates on the national power situation.

Load Shedding Remains Suspended

Providing further reassurance, Eskom noted that load shedding has remained suspended since 22:00 on 15 May 2025, and there are currently no plans to introduce outages of such magnitude. The power utility’s communication stressed the importance of verifying information before sharing it and reminded the public to remain vigilant against misleading social media posts.

“Misinformation causes unnecessary alarm. Stay informed—trust only official Eskom updates on our platforms,” the utility urged.

Eskom Winter Outlook: Resilience Despite System Constraints

Despite the fake news, Eskom did not shy away from acknowledging the real challenges it faces. According to spokesperson Daphne Mokwena, the national power grid continues to face system constraints, especially during morning and evening peak periods. However, Mokwena confirmed that adequate emergency reserves have been put in place and are being strategically deployed to meet demand as the country enters the heart of winter.

“As the winter season sets in, planned maintenance has gradually decreased, averaging 4 482MW this week—slightly higher than typical winter maintenance levels in prior years,” she added.

This level of maintenance, although higher than usual for winter, reflects Eskom’s cautious approach to ensuring long-term system reliability. Mokwena also pointed out that despite ongoing challenges, system resilience has improved, and the power utility remains on track to manage winter demand effectively.

Diesel Expenditure and Generation Capacity

Eskom reported a decline in diesel usage, which is a positive sign for both operational efficiency and budget management. The Open-Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) load factor dropped to 7.65%, compared to 10.94% in the previous week. This means less reliance on costly diesel-powered generation.

“Diesel usage is expected to decline further as more units return from long-term repairs,” Mokwena said, indicating a potential increase in available generation capacity as winter progresses.

Load Shedding Outlook Through August 2025

Eskom’s winter outlook, which covers the period ending 31 August 2025, remains cautiously optimistic. The utility maintains that if unplanned outages remain below 13 000MW, load shedding will not be necessary. However, if outages climb to 15 000MW, Eskom projects that only 21 days of stage 2 load shedding might be required over the 153-day period.

This means that while challenges remain, South Africans are not on the verge of the 14-hour blackouts falsely predicted online.

With winter energy demands peaking, Eskom has taken a transparent and proactive approach to debunk false claims and manage public expectations. There is no scheduled 14-hour load shedding, and the power utility has confirmed the system’s current stability. While constraints persist, Eskom’s management of emergency reserves, reduced diesel reliance, and ongoing infrastructure recovery offer hope for a relatively stable winter.

As misinformation continues to circulate online, it’s more important than ever for the public to stay informed via official channels. Trust the facts—not the fear.